Julius Caesar used dictatorship to rule Rome during the 47 BC, and in 44 BC, he was declared a lifetime dictator. There are many contradicting perceptions of who Julius Caesar was. Many historians view him as a dictator who was killed due to his inadequate leadership skills, while another portion of historians believe he was beneficial to Rome. It is believed that, to some extent, it strengthened Rome, such as granting foreign tribes’ citizenship of Rome 1 . Despite the few things he did right, there are numerous horrid things that he did that indicated his contemptible and inferior leadership skills. The character of Julius Caesar has been used throughout history to depict the struggles that human beings encounter in a historical and dramatic setting that intrigues the audience 2 . The actions of Caesar are a clear illustration of the external and internal struggles that exist between political, social, and personal values 3 . Politics is depicted as an issue that is not determined by wrong or right actions but rather determined by people in charge who are conflicted in deciding the best course of action. This inference suggests that the leader's temperament characterizes politics. The character of Julius Caesar exemplifies how the predictability of an individual’s temperament can significantly impact their actions and politics 4 .
Many of the crucial conflicts in the reign of Julius Caesar involved individuals who made choices for personal gain rather than for the public gain. Julius was extremely greedy for more power and kept on raising taxes on the citizens of Rome. In order to become the ruling dictator, Julius had murdered the previous dictator Sulla, as stipulated by the law in Rome 5 . The Senate, during the rule of Julius, did not agree with his choices, which led to the prolonged antagonistic and strained relationship between them. It is this hostile relationship that eventually led to the idea that killing him would end all their political troubles. The senate resolved to end his life through twenty-three stabs 6 . Marcus Brutus, who was a close associate of Julius and a reputable colleague in the senate, was involved in the murder plot. Marcus loved Rome more than he loved Julius, which is why he believed he was doing the right thing. He believed that being loyal to the citizens of Rome necessitated that he could take any crucial action to safeguard the town even if it meant murdering the leader who was his close acquaintance. Caesar may have successfully overthrown the previous dictator; nonetheless, in the end, he lost more than just the leadership position due to his tactics 7 .
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Desiring to rule and build the most attractive empire isn’t a transgression but Julius’s actions of moving individuals away from their families and friends to enslave them in building Rome. The story of Julius Caesar follows his reign and the political events leading to his assassination. The events were recorded by historians in ancient Rome, and it depicts the murder of the senior-most military and political leader in Rome during 44B.C 8 . The assassination of Julius Caesar shuddered the entire universe and significantly controlled the civilization and growth of the Roman empire. The killing of Caesar is an essential element politically as it affected on the fall of the roman empire 50 decades later. During this era, rebirth and renovation needed to be reevaluated in order to accurately determine the legitimate definition of kingship, power, and sovereignty. The conservative people regarded the assassination of Julius as an atrocious and a trigger for civil war 9 . The more liberal viewers, however, considered the reign of Caesar as a political tyranny, and his assassination was a liberation to the nation. Like the common phrase in the Elizabethan era, “the killing of a ‘king’ is justifiable for the sake of human liberty 10 ."
Initially, Caesar had no intention of seizing power even as the Roman citizens cheered him on to take the emperor crown. Though he rejects the popular claim elections, he anxiously awaits his promotion in the senate. His rise in power and tyrant choices eventually lured him to death 11 . Though his assassins justified their actions as a necessary means for the good of Rome, they triggered anarchy, chaos, and ensuing civil war. Ironically, both Caesar and the conspirators who execute him are not advocates of democracy 12 . The pretentious rejection of the crown by Caesar fooled the mob about his treacherous intentions. The conspirators are not planning the assassination of Caesar because they earnestly want to help the citizens of Rome; their main intention is mainly resentment and envy. Despite their claims of looking out for Romans, they do not have a well-structured plan on how they will restructure the administration, reestablishing order, and selecting a successor 13 .
As a ruler, Caesar was extravagant and spent more than he could afford politically as well as in his personal life. He misused resources in the purchase of expensive art collections and slaves in his attempt to make the Roman society believe that he was one of the elite members. During his service in the military, he became close associates with Marcus Crassus while working on the rebellion against slavery and Spartacus 14 . Crassus was an essential element in Caesar’s political career due to his limitless wealth, which was used to bankroll his reckless lifestyle and raise his social status. His cunning ways of winning the hearts of citizens began during the burial of his aunt. He turned the tragedy into a pitching opportunity; he exhibited the arts of Gaius Marius and accorded him praise for his excellent artwork. He then went ahead to make claims on the throne, claiming his ancestors were kings, which angered the conservative senators. Despite the senate's attempt to silence him, the crowd cheered him on and drowned their efforts. Caesar could manipulate people. He was deeply concerned with what the public opinion and went to big trouble to make sure the people loved him 15 .
The main focus is on the actions and political ambitions of men, little focus is given to women. This depicts a society dominated by male chauvinists who have a definite perception of what being a man entails. Being a female in this society represents all the things that a man should not be; it is clearly illustrated in the despise men have for feminine traits 16 . It is ironic, however, that the men who consider themselves intelligent end up ruining the entire political system due to their shortsightedness. The women who are lightly taken provide valuable information, which is the men had utilized things would have turned out differently. Women are depicted as lion hearted individuals who have a powerful intuition to predict future events. If the men had listened keenly to what their wives said, there is a high chance thing would have turned differently. Some calamities, like suicide, betrayal, assassination, and exile, would have been avoided 17 . Caesar only makes his aunts burial a public charade only because it benefits his political career, not because she was regarded as important to society.
Caesar participated in inspiring a revolution in Cisalpine Gaul; however, he failed to be convicted as no substantial evidence was presented against him. Caesar is an important character in not only the history of Italy but also that of the western nations. The political life of Julius illustrates the challenges of gaining or losing support, dictatorship, betrayal, conquest, monarchy, revolution, and imperialism. His significance in history is not limited to politic only but also in the visual arts, religion, education, military, architecture, cultural education, urban planning, and education 18 .
Bibliography
Barlag, Phillip. The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons from The Man Who Built an Empire . San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publisher, 2016.
H olmes, James T. "Julius Caesar’s Invasions of Britain", 2010. http://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/James-Holmes1.pdf .
Lucking, David. "Brutus's Reasons: Julius Caesar and The Mystery of Motive". English Studies 91, no. 2 (2010): 119-132. doi: 10.1080/00138380903355148.
Stevenson, Tom. "Julius Caesar And the Transformation of The Roman Republic", 2014. doi: 10.4324/9781315746173.
Willard, Edward. Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy in Five Acts . Boston, MA: Palala Press, 2016.
1 . Edward Willard, Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy In Five Acts (Boston, MA: Palala Press, 2016).
2 . Edward Willard, Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy In Five Acts .
3 . Stevenson, Tom. "Julius Caesar And The Transformation Of The Roman Republic", 2014. doi:10.4324/9781315746173.
4 . Edward Willard, Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy In Five Acts .
5 . Edward Willard, Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy In Five Acts
6 . Stevenson, Tom. "Julius Caesar And The Transformation Of The Roman Republic" .
7 . Stevenson, Tom. "Julius Caesar And The Transformation Of The Roman Republic".
8 . James T. Holmes, "Julius Caesar’s Invasions Of Britain", 2010, http://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/James-Holmes1.pdf.
9 . James T. Holmes, "Julius Caesar’s Invasions Of Britain" .
10 . Phillip Barlag, The Leadership Genius Of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons From The Man Who Built An Empire (San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publisher, 2016).
11 . Phillip Barlag, The Leadership Genius Of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons From The Man Who Built An Empire .
12 . Phillip Barlag, The Leadership Genius Of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons From The Man Who Built An Empire .
13 . Edward Willard, Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy In Five Acts .
14 . Lucking, David. "Brutus's Reasons: Julius Caesar and The Mystery Of Motive". English Studies 91, no. 2 (2010): 119-132. doi:10.1080/00138380903355148.
15 . Lucking, David. "Brutus's Reasons: Julius Caesar and The Mystery Of Motive".
16 . Lucking, David. "Brutus's Reasons: Julius Caesar and The Mystery Of Motive".
17 . Edward Willard, Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy In Five Acts .
18 . Edward Willard, Julius Caesar: An Historical Tragedy In Five Acts .
